​Fitzwilliam String Quartet at 50!

The founding members of the FSQ first sat down together in the Gaskoin Room at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, in October 1968 – as undergraduates during their inaugural term. Their first concert appearance took place in Churchill College the following March, ahead of their public debut at the Sheffield Arts Festival in June – making the Fitzwilliam now one of the longest established string quartets in the world, and possibly unique in having reached the milestone with an original player still on board! By way of marking the half-centuryit was felt that, rather than make a splash at a big London or New York venue, it seemed more appropriate to give something back to those British musical organisations who have supported the quartet over so many years: thereby travelling the length and breadth of the country, re-visiting as many favourite venues in 16 months as can be accommodated; also teaming up with past quintet guests; championing composers who have written for the Fitzwilliam; and broadening horizons via the FSQ’s long-time Shostakovich association, presenting his music specially choreographed by a quartet of dancers led by Lauren Potter, or with live painting by Maryleen Schiltkamp and Dora Williams. An extensive diary of events is now under way, inaugurated at the beginning of September but already needing to overflow into Spring 2020.

There will also be new CD recordings issued: of quartets by Schubert on gut strings (Death & the Maiden and theA minor – with the C minor and G major to follow in 2020), and a re-visiting (after 43 years!) of the three quartets (Nos.13, 14, 15) which Dmitri Shostakovich himself sent to them towards the end of his life. The FSQ also helps celebrate other significant anniversaries, not least leader Lucy Russell’s own 30 years in the group; but also their eponymous Cambridge college, Jeffrey Skidmore’s Ex Cathedra, Martin Randall Travel, and Opera North’s Howard Assembly Room.

Fitzwilliam String Quartet appointed quartet-in-residence at University of St Andrews Music Centre, October 2018

As part of the residency the quartet will coach student string players and scholarship groups, and mentor advanced players looking to enter postgraduate study or the music profession. The group will also participate in special projects with university groups such as Byre Opera and the Strings in Spring course. Michael Downes, the University’s director of music, said: ‘Since the Fitzwilliam first visited St Andrews in 2010, they have made an enormous impact on musical life in the university and the town. As one of the few leading British quartets to perform regularly on both modern and period instruments, their incredibly versatile musicianship has been displayed in projects as diverse as productions of Baroque opera, CD recordings with St Salvator’s Chapel Choir, and premiering contemporary works with principals from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.’

“Intricate Web was the first work she wrote for the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, who plays it—and the other quartet works on the program—with impeccable finesse and sensitivity, despite their ferocious difficulty.”- Fanfare, USA